SolidWorks Administrative Image

The SolidWorks Installation Manager Administrative Image option creates an administrative image and a client notification file.

To create an administrative image:

1. Initiate the installation.

2. Enter your serial number and click Next.

3. Click Administrative Image and Server products.

4. Select Create an administrative image on a server.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

You can specify:

• Products to include in the administrative image

• A file containing SolidWorks settings that have been exported using the Copy Settings Wizard

• The location to install the Toolbox library

• Automatic activation of client installations

• The creation of a diagnostic log file

 If you select Automatically activate client installations or Create a diagnostic log during each installation, the SolidWorks Installation Manager requires that all clients have write access to the logs directory that is created as part of the administrative image. Client installations will fail if the client is unable to write to this location. If you see the message: "You must set write permission to the logs directory or client installations will fail," click OK and modify the permissions to the newly created logs directory, if necessary, before performing a client installation.

• Login information to run the installation as a different user

• Programs to run before or after installation

These options are stored in XML files that you can modify with the Option Editor tool.

 The administrative image must be in a shared folder so it can be deployed to clients.

6. Create users and groups using the SolidWorks Admin Director Option Editor.

7. Prepare the client computers for installation.  

8. Notify clients.